Committee — Restaurant in Boston

As someone with a background in both criminal justice and the hospitality industry, I don’t take writing reviews lightly. But what I experienced at Committee nearly three weeks ago requires being addressed not just for myself, but for the integrity of the customer experience.

I visited with a group of three and simply asked the bartender whose name Dee, for an Old Fashioned. Her response was, “I have 7 or 8 other customers who want drinks too.” I calmly replied that I understood she was busy and that I wasn’t expecting the drink immediately. Despite my respectful tone, she responded with raised voice, unnecessary attitude, and declared she was cutting me off without cause. She then called security and the manager, who asked me to leave without even hearing my side.

This was not only unprofessional, it was discriminatory. Removing a guest from an establishment without valid reason, simply because they asked for a standard drink and politely asserted their right not to be treated with attitude, crosses a line. I did not raise my voice. I was not intoxicated. I did not threaten or insult anyone. I exercised my right to speak and set a respectful boundary.

In hospitality, professionalism is not optional, it's a requirement. Bartenders must know how to handle different personalities or to take diversity training. When a bartender lacks emotional control and reacts impulsively to a customer who is calm and composed, it damages the venue’s credibility and opens the door to repeated abuse of authority.

Sadly, I now see other reviews describing similar experiences. If this happened to me, it likely happened to others. And when a venue fails to listen to both sides, and acts solely in favor of its staff without review or fairness, it shows clear bias and a breakdown of ethical standards.

Committee, I will not be returning and I strongly urge management to take a hard look at what hospitality and due process should look like. Because no guest should be punished for simply speaking up.

Edit: Before entering, security wrongly claimed only U.S. passports were accepted, showing poor training. Until I had to speak with his supervisor who confirmed I was good to enter and that foreign passports are accepted. That same guard later told me to step outside when the bartender had me removed. Clear unprofessionalism and unfair treatment, amounting to discriminatory behavior. Funny enough it was the same person both times. Though I knew he was just taking orders from poorly trained and...

Committee offers great tasting food that is high-quality and creative. However because of the level of service offered at my last visit, this review has two stars.

Food: The lobster gnocchi was our favorite! Great size, flavor and the lobster was cooked perfectly with surprising large pieces of lobster! LOVE. The vegan sausage dish nearly blew my mind because it was so close to tasting like "real" sausage. The lamb had a great taste however was quite tough in texture. The fried zucchini was perfectly prepared and crispy. The patatas were nice, however may be better if cut smaller.

The wine recommendation was on point and exactly what I was intending and the cocktail with pink peppercorns was incredible and so inventive!

The Service... Being that this happened during COVID reopening AND closer to the end of the night (10pm/later) may give some context on why service may have been spotty. However, I still feel this is worth mentioning.

Despite the great food, after delivering the food, the server stayed away from the table for over 15 minutes and refrained from a touch point to fill water or even ask how the meal was tasting. Upon asking where the server was, we were informed that she'd left and that we'd been assigned a new server.

Once the new server introduced himself, he let us know that the kitchen was closed/closing soon. This was before we finished ordering our entire meal. Visibly confused, he kindly took our orders to give to the kitchen. The kitchen made an exception even though the kitchen was closing soon (in 8 minutes). We were grateful for the accommodation.

We asked to chat with the manager to let them know and to learn what they may offer because of their service misstep. When speaking with the manager, she was understanding of our small frustration. She asked what we wanted her to do about the issue -- which could have been taken as sassy or could have been taken as accommodating - or both - still unsure!

In the end, she generously comped both our drinks (about $30) and also delivered a birthday dessert on the house.

Overall, great quality and tasting food with service that has an opportunity to easily improve with some more clear communication internally and with the guests.

Definitely worth...

📍 Location & Atmosphere Committee in Boston offers a beautiful view of Seaport, making it a perfect spot for those seeking a scenic dining experience. The atmosphere is vibrant and stylish, with a modern, chic interior that complements the lively vibe of the area. Sitting by the booth gives you an intimate yet spacious feel, and the overall ambiance is both upscale and relaxed. The view outside adds a stunning touch to the meal, making it an ideal place for both casual dining and special occasions.

🍽️ Food & Drinks We started with the pita, which was absolutely delicious. The presentation of the dish was stunning—each dip was so vibrant and full of color, something I’ve rarely seen before. The flavors were a perfect blend of buffalo, sweet, and savory, offering a unique taste experience. However, I did wish they offered more pita since there was way too much dip for just five pieces of pita, leaving me wanting more of the great flavor.

For the main course, I tried the lamb burger, curious about how the typically gamey flavor of lamb would come through. To my surprise, the burger was delicious—the lamb was cooked tenderly and well-seasoned, and the arugula and pickled onion added a nice balance of freshness and tang. The fries on the side were the perfect complement, crispy and flavorful, rounding off the meal nicely.

👨‍🍳 Service & Hospitality While the food was great, the service could use some improvement. It felt like the staff didn’t quite want to be there, and I noticed that it was hard to get their attention. Even though we were sitting in a corner, it seemed like the waitstaff was nowhere to be found at times, which could definitely be worked on for a smoother dining experience.

💡 Unique Selling Point Committee stands out with its beautiful views of Seaport and artfully presented dishes, especially the vibrant dips that offer a flavorful and visually...